Mitrailleuse

Mitrailleuse, a breech-loading machine-gun, consisting of a number of small "barrels bound together and so arranged as to be capable of continuous fire for short periods. The original mitrailleuse was the invention of a Frenchman named Montigny, and was expected to play a very important part in the Franco-German War of 1870. It failed, however, to produce much effect. More perfect weapons of a similar kind have been invented by Gardner, Hotchkiss, Nordenfelt, Gatling, and others.